Processes for the preparation of isothiazole derivatives

ABSTRACT

Processes and intermediates for the preparation of compounds of the Formula (1) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, solvates and hydrates thereof, wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  have the definitions provided herein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a 371 filing of International Application No.PCT/US2005/027398 filed on Aug. 2, 2005 and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application 60/604,542 dated Aug. 26, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to processes for preparing isothiazolederivatives that are useful in the treatment of hyperproliferativediseases, such as cancers, in mammals. It is known that polypeptidegrowth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), whichhas a high affinity for the human kinase insert-domain-containingreceptor (KDR) or the murine fetal liver kinase 1 (FLK-1) receptor, havebeen associated with the proliferation of endothelial cells and moreparticularly to vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The present inventionprovides a process for preparing compounds that are capable of bindingto or modulating the KDR/FLK-1 receptor. The compounds may be used totreat disorders related to vasculogenesis or angiogenesis such asdiabetes, diabetic retinopathy, hemangioma, glioma, melanoma, Kaposi'ssarcoma and ovarian, breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate, colon andepidermoid cancer.

This invention also relates to processes for preparing intermediatesthat may be converted to the aforementioned isothiazole derivatives andto the intermediates prepared. Processes for preparing isothiazolederivatives and their intermediates have been disclosed in InternationalPatent Publication WO 99/62890, published Dec. 9, 1999, and U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,235,764; 6,380,214; and 6,548,526, issuing on May 22, 2001, Apr.30, 2002 and Apr. 15, 2003, respectively. Processes for preparing3-alkoxyisothiazole derivatives as herbicides have been disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,059,433, issuing on Nov. 22, 1977. Processes forpreparing 5-amino-3-hydroxy(alkoxy-amino-)isothiazoles have beendisclosed in Chemische Berichte (1964), 97(11), 3106-17

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound ofthe Formula I

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, hydrate or solvatethereof; wherein

R¹ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),—C(O)(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), or —C(O)(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl groupoptionally includes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and—N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and Satom are not attached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclicR¹ groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturatedcyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atomsin the foregoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by anoxo (═O) moiety; and the foregoing R¹ groups, except H, are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

R² is selected from the list of substituents provided in the definitionof R¹, —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic), and —OR⁵, t is an integer ranging from 0 to 5, and theforegoing R² groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

or R¹ and R² may be taken together with the nitrogen to which each isattached to form a 4-10 membered saturated monocyclic or polycyclic ringor a 5-10 membered heteroaryl ring, wherein said saturated andheteroaryl rings optionally include 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from O,S and —N(R⁶)— in addition to the nitrogen to which R¹ and R² areattached, said —N(R⁶)— is optionally ═N— or —N═ where R¹ and R² aretaken together as said heteroaryl group, said saturated ring optionallymay be partially unsaturated by including 1 or 2 carbon-carbon doublebonds, and said saturated and heteroaryl rings, including the R⁶ groupof said —N(R⁶)—, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

R³ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally includes 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said aryl and heterocyclic R³ groups are optionally fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 memberedheterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclicmoieties are optionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; the—(CH₂)_(t)— moieties of the foregoing R³ groups optionally include acarbon-carbon double or triple bond where t is an integer from 2 to 5,and the foregoing R³ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 5 R⁴groups;

each R⁴ is independently selected from halo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is an integer ranging from 0 to 2,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10membered heterocyclic), and —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integerfrom 1 to 5 and t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallycontains 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁴ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in theforegoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by an oxo(═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic moieties of theforegoing R⁴ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 substituentsindependently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶,—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5, —OR⁵ and thesubstituents listed in the definition of R⁵;

each R⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallyincludes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁵ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; and the foregoing R⁵substituents, except H, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3substituents independently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl,trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶C(O)R⁷, —C(O)NR⁶R⁷, —NR⁶R⁷, hydroxy, C₁-C₆alkyl, and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; and

each R⁶ and R⁷ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

comprising reacting a compound of the Formula II

wherein R⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), —C(O)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),

—C(O)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl);—C(O)O(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O(4-10 membered heterocyclic) wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁸ groups are optionallyfused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁸groups are optionally substituted with 1-2 substituents independentlyselected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, andnitro groups; and R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined above forthe compound of the Formula I, with an ammonia source in a solvent togive a compound of the Formula I. The reaction is preferably performedat a temperature between about −50° C. and about 150° C. and pressuresbetween about atmospheric pressure and about 200 psi, more preferably ata temperature of about 50° C. to about 70° C. at about 10 to about 40psi, and still more preferably at about 30° C. to about 50° C. and atabout 45 to about 80 psi. The ammonia source is preferably anhydrousammonia, but the source of ammonia is not critical to the success of theinvention. Other non-limiting sources of ammonia include ammoniumhydroxide, liquid ammonia, ammonium chloride, sodamide, and formamide.

The reaction is preferably conducted in the presence of a solvent, suchas C₁-C₄ alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol),dipolar aprotic solvents (e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide,dimethylacetamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone), ethers (e.g.,tetrahydrofuran, diisopropyl ether, methyl-tert-butyl ether, dioxane,2-methyltetrahydrofuran), water or mixtures of at least two thereof.Tetrahydrofuran and methanol or mixtures thereof are especiallypreferred.

An embodiment of the present invention refers to those processes andcompounds where R² is H and R¹ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl optionally substituted by1 or 2 substituents independently selected from —NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶ and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic) where t isan integer from 0 to 5. In another embodiment R¹ is selected frompropyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl, and may be optionally substituted withdimethylamino, hydroxy, pyrrolidinyl, morpholino, andethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino, and R² is H.

In another embodiment R² is H and R¹ is —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic) wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5, said heterocyclicgroup is optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturatedcyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group and the R¹ group,including any fused portions of said R¹ group, may be substituted by 1or 2 substituents independently selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, hydroxy andhydroxymethyl.

In yet another embodiment R² is H and the 4-10 membered heterocyclicmoiety of the R¹ group, when the t variable of the R¹ group ranges from2-5, may be any one of morpholino, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl,piperazinyl, piperidinyl, and 2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl and theR¹ group is optionally substituted with hydroxy, hydroxymethyl andmethyl.

An embodiment of the present invention refers to those processes andcompounds wherein R³ is —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) wherein t is an integerfrom 1 to 3 and the R³ group is optionally substituted with 1 to 4 R⁴groups. In another embodiment R³ is benzyl optionally substituted by 1to 4 halo substituents.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to thoseprocesses and compounds wherein R² is H, R¹ is —(CH₂)₄-1-pyrrolidine, R³is 2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl, and R⁸ is methyl. Preferably, in thisembodiment the compound of Formula II is reacted with anhydrous ammoniain methanol at 50° C. to 70° C. at 10 to 40 psi. Still more preferably,in this embodiment the compound of Formula II is reacted with anhydrousammonia in methanol and tetrahydrofuran at 30° C. to 50° C. at 45 to 80psi.

Another embodiment of the present invention refers to those processeswherein the compound of Formula I is selected from the group consistingof3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;

-   5-{3-[3-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-(3-4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(6-dimethylamino-hexyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-isopropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   hydrochloride salt of    3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pentyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyoxy)-5-(3-{4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-hydroxy-6-piperidin-1-yl)-hexyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4    methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(4-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-{3-[2-(1-Methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(4-Dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-isopropropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Isopropylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-{3-[4-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-(3-{4-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(4-Hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-(3-{4-[Ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-(2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxmethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Methylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(3-Amino-propyl)-3-methyl-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-[3-(4-Diethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   3-(3-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;-   5-(3-{4-[Bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid amide;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, hydrates andsolvates of said compounds.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the present invention refers tothose processes wherein the compound of Formula I is3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, hydratesand solvates thereof.

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of acompound of the Formula II

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are as defined above for Formula I;comprising (1) reacting a compound of Formula IV

wherein R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are as defined above for Formula IIwith a source of carbonyl, with or without an added base, and thenadding a compound of Formula IIIHNR¹R²  III

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined above for Formula II, in a solvent togive a compound of the Formula II or (2) reacting a compound of FormulaIII with a source of carbonyl, with or without an added base; and thenadding a compound of Formula IV in a solvent to give a compound of theFormula II.

The source of carbonyl may be any suitable carbonyl source known tothose skilled in the art. In one embodiment the source of carbonyl isrepresented by the FormulaR′OCOX′wherein R¹ is a C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and X′ is a leaving groupsuch as a chloro group. Alternatively, other non-limiting examples ofsuitable carbonyl sources include 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole,di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine andphosgene or its equivalents such as diphosgene or triphosgene.

The reaction may be carried out at a temperature of between about −78°C. to about 100° C., and preferably between about 15° C. and about 25°C.

The reaction may utilize any suitable base known to those skilled in theart. Non-limiting examples of a suitable base include tertiary amines(e.g. triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, pyridine,4-dimethylaminopyridine), alkali metal carbonates, and alkali metalhydrogen carbonates.

The reaction may occur in any suitable solvent known to those skilled inthe art. Preferably, the reaction is carried out in the presence of ahalogenated hydrocarbon solvent such as dichloromethane or chloroform;an ether such as tetrahydrofuran, diisopropyl ether, methyl-tert-butylether, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran; a dipolar aprotic solvent such asdimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, anddimethylacetamide, and mixtures thereof.

In a preferred embodiment the compound of Formula IV is treated withtriphosgene and triethylamine in dichloromethane at a temperature ofbetween about −78° C. to about 20° C., then a compound of Formula III isadded, preferably a compound of Formula III wherein R¹ is H and R² is—(CH₂)₄-1-pyrrolidino, to give a compound of Formula II.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to thoseprocesses wherein the compound of Formula II is3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester.

In a more preferred embodiment the compound of Formula III wherein R¹ isH and R² is —(CH₂)₄-1-pyrrolidine is treated with1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole in tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of about−10° C. to about 10° C. to produce a product that is added to a compoundof Formula IV in dimethylsulfoxide and potassium carbonate at atemperature of about 15° C. to about 25° C., to give a compound of theFormula II, which is preferably3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester.

Another embodiment of the present invention refers to those processeswherein the compound of Formula II is selected from the group consistingof3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester;

-   5-{3-[3-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyoxy)-5-(3-4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(6-dimethylamino-hexyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-isopropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   hydrochloride salt of    3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pentyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-(3-[(4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-hydroxy-6-piperidin-1-yl)-hexyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(4-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-{3-[2-(1-Methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(4-Dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-isopropropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Isopropylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-{3-[4-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-(3-{4-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(4-Hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-(3-{4-[Ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-(2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxmethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Methylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(3-Amino-propyl)-3-methyl-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-[3-(4-Diethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   3-(3-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;-   5-(3-{4-[Bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic    acid methyl ester;

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of acompound of Formula IV

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶,R⁷, and R⁸ are as defined above;

comprising reacting a compound of the Formula V

wherein

R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are as defined above; R⁹ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 4-10 membered heterocyclic, said aryl and heterocyclic R⁹groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the foregoingaryl and heterocyclic R⁹ groups are optionally substituted independentlywith 1-2 substituents independently selected from halogen,trifluorormethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and nitro groups; and

n is 0, 1, or 2;

with an ammonia source in a solvent to give a compound of the FormulaIV. The reaction is preferably performed at a temperature between about−50° C. to about 150° C. and pressures between about atmosphericpressure and about 200 psi, more preferably at a temperature of about20° C. to about 60° C. at about atmospheric pressure to about 50 psi,and still more preferably at a temperature of about 40° C. to about 50°C. and at about 45-55 psi. The ammonia source is preferably anhydrousammonia, but the source of ammonia is not critical to the success of theinvention. Other non-limiting sources of ammonia include ammoniumhydroxide and liquid ammonia.

The reaction is preferably conducted in the presence of a solvent, suchas water, C₁-C₄ alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol,isopropanol), ethers (e.g., tetrahydrofuran, diisopropyl ether,methyl-tert-butyl ether, dioxane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran), and dipolaraprotic solvents (e.g., dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide,1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and dimethylacetamide).

An embodiment of the present invention refers to those processes whereinthe compound of Formula V is reacted with an ammonia source in a solventto give a compound of Formula IV and wherein R³ is —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl) wherein t is an integer from 1 to 3 and the R³ group is optionallysubstituted with 1 to 4 R⁴ groups. In another embodiment R³ is benzyloptionally substituted by 1 to 4 halo substituents.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to thoseprocesses wherein the compound of Formula V is reacted with an ammoniasource in a solvent to give a compound of Formula IV wherein R³ is2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl, R⁸ is methyl, R⁹ is methyl; and n is 2.Preferably in this embodiment the compound of Formula V is reacted withanhydrous ammonia in methanol or dimethylsulfoxide at 20° C. to 60° C.at atmospheric pressure to 50 psi. Still more preferably, in thisembodiment the compound of Formula V is reacted with anhydrous ammoniain tetrahydrofuran, and preferably at about 40° C. to about 50° C. at 45to 55 psi.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the present invention refers tothose processes wherein the compound of Formula. IV is5-Amino-3-(4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester.

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of acompound of Formula V

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, and R⁹ are as defined above; and

n is 0, 1, or 2;

comprising reacting a compound of the Formula VII

wherein n, R⁸, and R⁹ are as defined above, with a compound of FormulaVIR³X  VI

wherein R³ is as defined above and X is a halogen such as chlorine,bromine or iodine; hydroxyl; C₁-C₄ alkyl sulfonate ester; aryl sulfonateester such as tosylate, nosylate, besylate or brosylate; or an imidatesuch as trichloromethyl imidate in the presence of an acid, a base, orMitsunobu reagents R′₃P and R″OC(O)N═NC(O)OR″ wherein each R′ and R″ isindependently C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and wherein said R′ and R″alkyl and aryl groups are optionally substituted with 1 to 3 R¹⁰ groups;

R¹⁰ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro,trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵,—SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is aninteger ranging from 0 to 2, —NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), and—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5 and t is an integerfrom 0 to 5; said C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group optionally contains 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10membered heterocyclic) groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ arylgroup, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclicgroup; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclic moieties areoptionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl andheterocyclic moieties of the foregoing R¹⁰ groups are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from nitro,trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵,—C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶, —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5,—OR⁵ and the substituents listed in the definition of R⁵ where R⁵, R⁶,and R⁷ are as defined above with the proviso that R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ cannotbe H, in a solvent, to give a compound of the Formula V. When X is ahalogen or a sulfonate ester, a base is typically used. Non-limitingexamples of a suitable base include alkali metal carbonates, alkalimetal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal carbonate, alkaline earth metalhydroxide, alkali metal C₁-C₄ alkoxide, alkali metal hydride, andtertiary amines such as triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine,1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (“DBU”) and1,5-Diazabicyclo-[4.3.0]non-5-ene (“DBN”). When X is an imidate, acidsare typically used. Non-limiting examples include mineral acids such ashydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, Bronsted acids such as triflicacid, or Lewis acids such as Trimethylsilyl trifluoromethane-sulfonate,transition metal chlorides (e.g., SnCl₄, TiCl₄), BF₃ etherate, andlanthanide triflate (e.g., Sc(OTf)₃ and Ln(OTf)₃). When X is hydroxyl,Mitsunobu reagents R′₃P and R″OC(O)OR″ are preferably used. Preferredreagents are wherein R′ is C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ aryl and R″ is C₁-C₄alkyl or C₁-C₄ aryl. More preferred reagents are wherein R′ is phenyland R″ is ethyl or isopropyl.

The reaction may be carried out at a temperature of between about −20°C. to about 100° C., and preferably at between about 15° C. to about 35°C.

The reaction is also preferably carried out in the presence of asolvent. Preferably, when X is a halogen, sulfonate, or hydroxyl thesolvent is a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent such as dichloromethane orchloroform, an ether, such as tetrahydrofuran, diisopropyl ether,methyl-tert-butyl ether, dioxane, or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, or adipolar aprotic solvent, such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide,1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, or dimethylacetamide. Preferably, when X is animidate, the solvent is a polar solvent such as nitromethane,acetonitrile, or 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol or a halogenated hydrocarbonsolvent such as dichloromethane or chloroform.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention refers to thoseprocesses wherein the compound of Formula VII is reacted with a compoundof Formula VI in which X is an aryl sulfonate ester in a dipolar aproticsolvent with an alkali metal carbonate base to give a compound of theFormula V. It is especially preferred when R³ is2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl; X is p-toluene sulfonate ester; R⁸ ismethyl; R⁹ is methyl; n is 2; the alkali metal carbonate base ispotassium carbonate; and the solvent is dimethylsulfoxide. Thispreferred process may be performed at about 15° C. to about 35° C.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the present invention refers tothose processes wherein the compound of Formula V is3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester.

The invention also relates to compounds of Formulae IIa, IVa or Va thatare useful in the preparation of the isothiazole derivatives of FormulaI, which are in turn useful for binding or modulating KDR/FLK-1receptors.

The present invention relates to a compound of the Formula IIa

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

R¹ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),—C(O)(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), or —C(O)(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl groupoptionally includes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and—N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two 0 atoms, two S atoms, or an O and Satom are not attached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclicR¹ groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturatedcyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atomsin the foregoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by anoxo (═O) moiety; and the foregoing R¹ groups, except H, are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

R² is selected from the list of substituents provided in the definitionof R¹, —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic), and —OR⁵, t is an integer ranging from 0 to 5, and theforegoing R² groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

or R¹ and R² may be taken together with the nitrogen to which each isattached to form a 4-10 membered saturated monocyclic or polycyclic ringor a 5-10 membered heteroaryl ring, wherein said saturated andheteroaryl rings optionally include 1 or 2 heteroatoms selected from O,S and —N(R⁶)— in addition to the nitrogen to which R¹ and R² areattached, said —N(R⁶)— is optionally ═N— or —N═ where R¹ and R² aretaken together as said heteroaryl group, said saturated ring optionallymay be partially unsaturated by including 1 or 2 carbon-carbon doublebonds, and said saturated and heteroaryl rings, including the R⁶ groupof said —N(R⁶)—, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups;

R³ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally includes 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said aryl and heterocyclic R³ groups are optionally fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 memberedheterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclicmoieties are optionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; the—(CH₂)_(t)— moieties of the foregoing R³ groups optionally include acarbon-carbon double or triple bond where t is an integer from 2 to 5,and the foregoing R³ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 5 R⁴groups;

each R⁴ is independently selected from halo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is an integer ranging from 0 to 2,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10membered heterocyclic), and —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integerfrom 1 to 5 and t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallycontains 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁴ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in theforegoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by an oxo(═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic moieties of theforegoing R⁴ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 substituentsindependently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶,—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5, —OR⁵ and thesubstituents listed in the definition of R⁵;

each R⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallyincludes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁵ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; and the foregoing R⁵substituents, except H, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3substituents independently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl,trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶C(O)R⁷, —C(O)NR⁶R⁷, —NR⁶R⁷, hydroxy, C₁-C₆alkyl, and C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

each R⁶ and R⁷ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl; and

-   -   R⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), —C(O)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),        —C(O)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),        —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl);        —C(O)O(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein        t is an integer from 0 to 5; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁸        groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the        foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁸ groups are optionally        substituted with 1-2 substituents independently selected from        halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and nitro        groups with the proviso that R⁸ is not ethyl when simultaneously        R¹ is H, R² is pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl and R³ is C₁-C₃ alkyl.

An embodiment of the present invention refers to the compounds ofFormula IIa where R² is H and R¹ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl optionally substitutedby 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from —NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶ and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic) where t isan integer from 0 to 5. In another embodiment R¹ is selected frompropyl, butyl, pentyl and hexyl, and may be optionally substituted withdimethylamino, hydroxy, pyrrolidinyl, morpholino, andethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino, and R² is H.

In another embodiment the present invention refers to the compounds ofFormula IIa where R² is H and R¹ is —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic) wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5, said heterocyclicgroup is optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturatedcyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group and the R¹ group,including any fused portions of said R¹ group, may be substituted by 1or 2 substituents independently selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, hydroxy andhydroxymethyl. In this embodiment, preferably the 4-10 memberedheterocyclic of R¹ is selected from one of morpholino, pyrrolidinyl,imidazolyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, and2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl and the R¹ group is optionallysubstituted with hydroxy, hydroxymethyl and methyl, and the t variableof the R¹ group ranges from 2-5.

An embodiment of the present invention refers to the compounds ofFormula IIa wherein R³ is —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) wherein t is aninteger from 1 to 3 and the R³ group is optionally substituted with 1 to4 R⁴ groups. In this embodiment, preferably R³ is benzyl optionallysubstituted by 1 to 4 halo substituents.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to compounds ofFormula IIa wherein R² is H, R¹ is —(CH₂)₄₋₁-pyrrolidine, R³ is2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl, and R⁸ is methyl.

Another embodiment of the present invention refers to the compounds ofFormula IVa

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

R³ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally includes 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said aryl and heterocyclic R³ groups are optionally fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 memberedheterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclicmoieties are optionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; the—(CH₂)_(t)— moieties of the foregoing R³ groups optionally include acarbon-carbon double or triple bond where t is an integer from 2 to 5,and the foregoing R³ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 5 R⁴groups;

each R⁴ is independently selected from halo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is an integer ranging from 0 to 2,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10membered heterocyclic), and —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integerfrom 1 to 5 and t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallycontains 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁴ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in theforegoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by an oxo(═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic moieties of theforegoing R⁴ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 substituentsindependently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶,—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5, —OR⁵ and thesubstituents listed in the definition of R⁵;

each R⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallyincludes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁵ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; and the foregoing R⁵substituents, except H, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3substituents independently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl,trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶C(O)R⁷, —C(O)NR⁶R⁷, —NR⁶R⁷, hydroxy, C₁-C₆alkyl, and C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

each R⁶ and R⁷ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl; and

-   -   R⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), —C(O)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),        —C(O)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),        —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl);        —C(O)O(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein        t is an integer from 0 to 5; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁸        groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the        foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁸ groups are optionally        substituted with 1-2 substituents independently selected from        halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and nitro        groups with the proviso that R⁸ is not ethyl when R³ is C₁-C₃        alkyl.

In a preferred compound of Formula IVa, R³ is —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),wherein t is an integer from 1 to 3 and R³ is optionally substituted by1 to 4 R⁴ groups, and more preferred R³ is benzyl substituted by 1 to 4halo substituents.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to compounds ofFormula IVa wherein R³ is 2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl, and R⁸ is methyl.

Another embodiment of the present invention refers to the compounds ofFormula Va

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

R³ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally includes 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said aryl and heterocyclic R³ groups are optionally fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 memberedheterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclicmoieties are optionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; the—(CH₂)_(t)— moieties of the foregoing R³ groups optionally include acarbon-carbon double or triple bond where t is an integer from 2 to 5,and the foregoing R³ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 5 R⁴groups;

each R⁴ is independently selected from halo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶,—NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is an integer ranging from 0 to 2,—NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10membered heterocyclic), and —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integerfrom 1 to 5 and t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallycontains 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁴ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in theforegoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by an oxo(═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl and heterocyclic moieties of theforegoing R⁴ groups are optionally substituted by 1 to 3 substituentsindependently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy,azido, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶,—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5, —OR⁵ and thesubstituents listed in the definition of R⁵;

each R⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl,—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallyincludes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁵ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; and the foregoing R⁵substituents, except H, are optionally substituted by 1 to 3substituents independently selected from nitro, trifluoromethyl,trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶C(O)R⁷, —C(O)NR⁶R⁷, —NR⁶R⁷, hydroxy, C₁-C₆alkyl, and C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

each R⁶ and R⁷ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

R⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —C(O)(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), —C(O)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),

—C(O)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl);—C(O)O(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁸ groups are optionallyfused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁸groups are optionally substituted with 1-2 substituents independentlyselected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, andnitro groups;

R⁹ is C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 4-10 membered heterocyclic, the aryland heterocyclic R⁹ groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group;and the foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁹ groups are optionallysubstituted independently with 1-2 substituents independently selectedfrom halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and nitrogroups; and

n is 1 or 2.

In a preferred compound of Formula Va, R³ is —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),wherein t is an integer from 1 to 3 and the R³ group is optionallysubstituted by 1 to 4 R⁴ groups, and more preferably R³ is benzyloptionally substituted by 1 to 4 halo substituents, still morepreferably R⁸ and R⁹ are methyl.

In a still more preferred embodiment, the present invention refers tocompounds of Formula Va wherein n is 2, R³ is2,6-difluoro-4-bromobenzyl, R⁸ is methyl, and R⁹ is methyl.

In an embodiment, the compound of the Formula I, as defined previously,is prepared by reacting the compound of Formula IIa with an ammoniasource in a solvent.

In another embodiment, the compound of the Formula II, as definedpreviously, is prepared by reacting a compound of the Formula IVa with asource of carbonyl with or without an added base, and then adding acompound of Formula III, as previously defined, in a solvent oralternatively, reacting a compound of Formula III with a source ofcarbonyl with or without an added base, and then adding a compound ofFormula IVa in a solvent to give a compound of the Formula II.

In yet another embodiment; the compound of the Formula IV, as definedpreviously, is prepared by reacting a compound of Formula Va with anammonia source in a solvent.

In this invention, the term “halo,” unless otherwise indicated, includesfluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo. Preferred halo groups are fluoro, chloroand bromo.

The term “alkyl,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includessaturated monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having straight, cyclic orbranched moieties. It is understood that for cyclic moieties at leastthree carbon atoms are required in said alkyl group.

The term “alkenyl,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includesmonovalent hydrocarbon radicals having at least one carbon-carbon doublebond and also having straight, cyclic or branched moieties as providedabove in the definition of “alkyl.”

The term “alkynyl,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includesmonovalent hydrocarbon radicals having at least one carbon-carbon triplebond and also having straight, cyclic or branched moieties as providedabove in the definition of “alkyl.”

The term “alkoxy,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includesO-alkyl groups wherein “alkyl” is as defined above.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includes anorganic radical derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by removal of onehydrogen, such as phenyl or naphthyl.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated,includes an organic radical derived by removal of one hydrogen atom froma carbon atom in the ring of a heteroaromatic hydrocarbon, containingone or more heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, and N.Heteroaryl groups must have at least 5 atoms in their ring system andare optionally substituted independently with 0-2 halogen,trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, or nitro groups.

The term “4-10 membered heterocyclic,” as used herein, unless otherwiseindicated, includes aromatic and non-aromatic heterocyclic groupscontaining one or more heteroatoms each selected from O, S and N,wherein each heterocyclic group has from 4-10 atoms in its ring system.Non-aromatic heterocyclic groups include groups having only 4 atoms intheir ring system, but aromatic heterocyclic groups must have at least 5atoms in their ring system. An example of a 4 membered heterocyclicgroup is azetidinyl (derived from azetidine). An example of a 5 memberedheterocyclic group is thiazolyl and an example of a 10 memberedheterocyclic group is quinolinyl. Examples of non-aromatic heterocyclicgroups are pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl,tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, piperidino, morpholino,thiomorpholino, thioxanyl, piperazinyl, azetidinyl, oxetanyl, thietanyl,homopiperidinyl, oxepanyl, thiepanyl, oxazepinyl, diazepinyl,thiazepinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl,indolinyl, 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, dioxanyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl,pyrazolinyl, dithianyl, dithiolanyl, dihydropyranyl, dihydrothienyl,dihydrofuranyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl,3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanyl, ³H-indolyl andquinolizinyl. Examples of aromatic heterocyclic groups are pyridinyl,imidazolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, pyrazinyl, tetrazolyl,furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolyl,quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl,cinnolinyl, indazolyl, indolizinyl, phthalazinyl, pyridazinyl,triazinyl, isoindolyl, pteridinyl, purinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl,furazanyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiazolyl,benzoxazolyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, andfuropyridinyl. The foregoing groups, as derived from the compoundslisted above, may be C-attached or N-attached where such is possible.For instance, a group derived from pyrrole may be pyrrol-1-yl(N-attached) or pyrrol-3-yl (C-attached).

The term “saturated cyclic group” as used herein, unless otherwiseindicated, includes non-aromatic, fully saturated cyclic moietieswherein alkyl is as defined above.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s)”, as used herein, unlessotherwise indicated, includes salts of acidic or basic groups which maybe present in the compounds of the invention. The compounds of theinvention that are basic in nature are capable of forming a wide varietyof salts with various inorganic and organic acids. The acids that may beused to prepare pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of suchbasic compounds of the invention are those that form non-toxic acidaddition salts, i.e., salts containing pharmacologically acceptableanions, such as the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, nitrate,sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, acid phosphate, isonicotinate, acetate,lactate, salicylate, citrate, acid citrate, tartrate, pantothenate,bitartrate, ascorbate, succinate, maleate, gentisinate, fumarate,gluconate, glucaronate, saccharate, formate, benzoate, glutamate,methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonateand pamoate [i.e., 1,1′-methylene-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate)] salts.

Those compounds of the invention that are acidic in nature are capableof forming base salts with various pharmacologically acceptable cations.Examples of such salts include the alkali metal or alkaline earth metalsalts and particularly the sodium and potassium salts.

The term “solvate,” as used herein includes a compound of the inventionor a salt thereof, that further includes a stoichiometric ornon-stoichiometric amount of a solvent bound by non-covalentintermolecular forces. Preferred solvents are volatile, non-toxic,and/or acceptable for topical administration to humans.

The term “hydrate,” as used herein refers to a compound of the inventionor a salt thereof, that further includes a stoichiometric ornon-stoichiometric amount of water bound by non-covalent intermolecularforces.

Certain compounds of the present invention may have asymmetric centersand therefore appear in different enantiomeric forms. This inventionrelates to the use of all optical isomers and stereoisomers' of thecompounds of the invention and mixtures thereof. The compounds of theinvention may also appear as tautomers. This invention relates to theuse of all such tautomers and mixtures thereof.

The subject invention also includes isotopically-labelled compounds, andthe pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are identical tothose recited in Formulas I, II, IIa, IV, IVa, V and Va but for the factthat one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having an atomic mass ormass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually foundin nature. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into compoundsof the invention include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,sulfur, fluorine and chlorine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O,³⁵S, ¹⁸F, and ³⁶Cl, respectively. Compounds of the present invention,prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of saidcompounds or of said prodrugs which contain the aforementioned isotopesand/or other isotopes of other atoms are within the scope of thisinvention. Certain isotopically-labelled compounds of the presentinvention, for example those into which radioactive isotopes such as ³Hand ¹⁴C are incorporated, are useful in drug and/or substrate tissuedistribution assays. Tritiated, i.e., ³H, and carbon-14, i.e., ¹⁴C,isotopes are particularly preferred for their ease of preparation anddetectability. Further, substitution with heavier isotopes such asdeuterium, i.e., ²H, can afford certain therapeutic advantages resultingfrom greater metabolic stability, for example increased in vivohalf-life or reduced dosage requirements and, hence, may be preferred insome circumstances. Isotopically labelled compounds of Formula I of thisinvention and prodrugs thereof can generally be prepared by carrying outthe procedures disclosed in the Schemes and/or in the Examples andPreparations below, by substituting a readily available isotopicallylabelled reagent for a non-isotopically labelled reagent.

Compounds of Formula I having free amino, amido, hydroxy or carboxylicgroups can be converted into prodrugs. Prodrugs include compoundswherein an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of two or more(e.g., two, three or four) amino acid residues is covalently joinedthrough an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxy or carboxylicacid group of compounds of Formula I. The amino acid residues includebut are not limited to the 20 naturally occurring amino acids commonlydesignated by three letter symbols and also includes 4-hydroxyproline,hydroxylysine, demosine, isodemosine, 3-methylhistidine, norvalin,beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, citrulline, homocysteine,homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone.

Additional types of prodrugs are also encompassed. For instance, freecarboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters. The amideand ester moieties may incorporate groups including but not limited toether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities. Free hydroxy groupsmay be derivatized using groups including but not limited tohemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, andphosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlined in D. Fleisher, R. Bong, B.H. Stewart, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (1996) 19, 115. Carbamateprodrugs of hydroxy and amino groups are also included, as are carbonateprodrugs and sulfate esters of hydroxy groups. Derivatization of hydroxygroups as (acyloxy)methyl and (acyloxy)ethyl ethers wherein the acylgroup may be an alkyl ester, optionally substituted with groupsincluding but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acidfunctionalities, or where the acyl group is an amino acid ester asdescribed above, are also encompassed. Prodrugs of this type aredescribed in R. P. Robinson et al., J. Medicinal Chemistry (1996) 39,10.

Each of the patents, patent applications, published Internationalapplications, and scientific publications referred to in this patentapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compounds of Formula I are useful as agents for binding ormodulating KDR/FLK-1 receptors and are thus useful in the treatment ofhyperproliferative diseases, such as cancers in mammals.

The process of the present invention in its first aspect concernspreparing the isothiazole derivatives of Formula I. Compounds of theFormula I may be prepared according to the following reaction scheme anddiscussion. Unless otherwise indicated, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸,R⁹ and R¹⁰ in the reaction scheme and discussion that follow are asdefined above.

With reference to Scheme 1 above, the compound of Formula I may beprepared by treating a malonate diester (XIII) with base and carbondisulfide (reaction a), followed by treatment with an alkylating agentto provide an (alkyl)sulfanyl-ethenethiol anion (XI) (reaction b).Amination of the (alkyl)sulfanyl-ethenethiol anion via an electrophilicaminating agent yields the 5-(alkyl)sulfanyl isothiazole (VIII)(reaction c). Oxidation of the isothiazole (VIII) with an oxidizingagent in a suitable solvent yields either the 5-(alkyl)sulfonylisothiazole when n=2; or 5-(alkyl)sulfinyl isothiazole when n=1 (VII)(reaction d). Alternatively, the isothiazole, VIII, may be protectedwith a suitable protecting group (PG) to give a compound of generalFormula X (reaction e), which may then be treated with an oxidizingagent in a suitable solvent to prepare compounds of general Formula IX(reaction f). Compounds of general formula IX may then be deprotected togive compounds of 5-(alkyl)sulfonyl (or sulfinyl) isothiazole, VII. Thismechanism is illustrated in Scheme 2 below.

Referring back to Scheme 1, the 5-(alkyl)sulfonyl/sulfinyl isothiazoleVII is treated with a compound of general formula R³X (VI), typicallyunder basic conditions, to yield an isothiazole (V) now having alkoxyfunctionality at position three (3) of the isothiazole (reaction h).This reaction is particularly and unexpectedly advantageous whencompound VI is a tosylate and the conditions include a base in a dipolaraprotic solvent. The reaction under these conditions proceeds inunusually high O:N selectivity where alkylation takes place on thehydroxyl group instead of the nitrogen atom of the isothiazole ring.Under the appropriate conditions O:N selectivity approximates a ratio of35:1 O:N selectivity.

Alkylations of a variety of substituted 3-hydroxyisothiazoles have beenreported in the literature. Mixtures of O- and N-alkylated products wereobserved in all cases, with a wide variety of electrophiles (alkylhalides, alkyl sulfates, diazomethane), solvents (water, acetone, DMSO,DMF, MeCN, DME) and bases (NaOH, K₂CO₃, Li₂CO₃, Ag₂CO₃) being used. Forexample, a thorough study on the alkylation of 3-hydroxyisothiazole isreported in Tetrahedron, 1970; (26), 2497-2506:

RX M DMSO (O:N) DMF (O:N) MeCN (O:N) DME (O:N) MeI K 46:54 41:59 40:6020:80 Ag 68:32 — — — Li 34:66 17:83 — — EtI K 25:25 77:23 70:30 50:50 Li— 55:45 — — PrBr K 78:22 80:20 80:20 — iPrBr K 88:12 — 86:14 — BnCl K68:32 59:41 45:55 34:66

Additional references demonstrating 3-hydroxyisothiazole alkylationreactions with low O:N selectivity include the following:

The alkylation step (reaction h) in the process of the present inventionproceeds with very high O:N selectivity, namely, approximately 35:1 forthe conditions described in the experimental procedure of Example seven(7) discussed below, which is much higher than the selectivity ratiospublished in the references cited herein.

Referring again to Scheme 1, the alkoxylated isothiazole (V) is treatedwith a source of ammonia in a suitable solvent converting thesulfonyl/sulfinyl moiety at position five (5) of the isothiazole to aprimary amine (IV) (reaction i). A compound of general Formula IV may becombined with a secondary amine and a carbonyl source, with or withoutan added base, in a suitable solvent to give the compound of generalFormula II, replacing the primary amine with ureido functionality atposition five (5) on the isothiazole. A second treatment with an ammoniasource converts the alkyl ester to an amide providing the compound ofgeneral Formula I.

The starting materials employed in Scheme I are readily commerciallyavailable or readily prepared using methods well known in the art.

In each of the reactions discussed or illustrated in the Schemes,pressure is not critical unless otherwise indicated. Pressures fromabout 0.5 atmospheres to about 5 atmospheres are generally acceptable,and ambient pressure, i.e., about 1 atmosphere, is preferred as a matterof convenience.

The examples and preparations provided below further illustrate andexemplify the compounds of the present invention, methods of preparingsuch compounds, and the methods of the present invention. It is to beunderstood that the scope of the present invention is not limited in anyway by the scope of the following examples and preparations. In thefollowing examples molecules with a single chiral center, unlessotherwise noted, exist as a racemic mixture. Those molecules with two ormore chiral centers, unless otherwise noted, exist as a racemic mixtureof diastereomers. Single enantiomers/diastereomers may be obtained bymethods known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention is illustrated by the following Examples. It willbe understood, however, that the invention is not limited by thespecific details of the following Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of2,2-Bis-methoxycarbonyl-1-methylsulfanyl-ethenethiol anion

A reaction vessel was charged with acetonitrile (240 mL, 6 volumes)followed by 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (2.1 equivalents, 96.8g). The mixture was cooled to 5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. Dimethylmalonate (1.0 equiv, 40.0 g) was added over 10-15 minutes. The mixturewas held for 30-45 minutes at 5° C., Carbon disulfide (1.0 equiv, 23.1g) was added over 10-15 minutes, and then the mixture was held for 60-70minutes at 5° C. Dimethyl sulfate (1.05 equiv, 40.1 g) was added over10-15 minutes, and then the mixture was held at 5° C. for 16 hours. Themixture containing 2,2-Bis-methoxycarbonyl-1-methylsulfanyl-ethenethiolanion was finally warmed to 25° C. over 30 minutes, and held at 25° C.for 1-2 hours.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of3-Hydroxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester

A separate reaction vessel was charged with water (280 mL, 7 volumes)and sodium hydrogencarbonate (1.5 equiv, 38.2 g). The water/sodiumhydrogencarbonate mixture was cooled to 5° C. under nitrogen atmosphere.Hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid (1.2 equiv, 41.1 g) was added over 5minutes, and the mixture was stirred 15-30 minutes. The2,2-Bis-methoxycarbonyl-1-methylsulfanyl-ethenethiol anion/acetonitrilesolution from Example 1 was added over 60-70 minutes. The mixture waswarmed to 25° C. over 1 hour, then held for 16 hours at 25° C. Most ofthe acetonitrile was removed by vacuum distillation (130 Torr, 50° C.).The residue was cooled to room temperature, acidified to pH ˜1 byaddition of 37% hydrochloric acid (32 mL). The solids were granulatedfor 16 hours at 25° C. The slurry was filtered, and the filter cake waswashed 3×100 mL with water, once with 200 mL 1:3 ethyl acetate:hexanes(v/v), and once with 100 mL 1:3 ethyl acetate:hexanes (v/v). The wetcake (50.5 g) was dried in a vacuum oven for 16 hours to give3-Hydroxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester,providing 45.4 grams (73% yield). ¹H NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 11.92 (s, 1H);3.74 (s, 3H); 2.53 (s, 3H). MS: (API-ES pos) 206 (M+H)⁺, base.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of3-Methoxycarbonyloxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester

3-Hydroxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester(1.00 equiv, 10.0 g) and dichloromethane (100 mL, 10 volumes) werecharged to a flask and held at 25° C. under nitrogen atmosphere.Triethylamine (1.0 equiv, 6.78 mL, 4.88 g) was added. An orange solutionformed, which was cooled to 0° C. Methyl chloroformate (1.0 equiv, 3.74mL, 4.56 g) was added over 3 minutes. The mixture stirred at 25° C. for2 hours, then was washed with water (50 mL, 5 volumes) then brine (50mL, 5 volumes). The solvent was displaced with acetonitrile (100 mL, 10volumes) to give a tan slurry containing3-Methoxycarbonyloxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of5-Methanesulfonyl-3-methoxycarbonyloxy-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester

The 3-Methoxycarbonyloxy-5-methylsulfanyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester slurry was cooled to 0° C., and urea hydrogen peroxideaddition compound (2.8 equiv, 12.8 g) was added. Trifluoroacetic acidanhydride (2.8 equiv, 19.2 mL, 28.4 g) was added dropwise over 20minutes. The mixture stirred at 0° C. for 45 minutes, and quenched withsodium hydrogen sulfite (2.0 equiv, 10.0 g) in water (90 mL, 9 volumes)and stirred at 25° C. Most of the acetonitrile was removed under vacuum,then the aqueous residue was extracted once with 100 mL and once againwith 50 mL dichloromethane to provide5-Methanesulfonyl-3-methoxycarbonyloxy-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of3-Hydroxy-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester

The 5-Methanesulfonyl-3-methoxycarbonyloxy-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester/dichloromethane extracts were combined, then displaced withmethanol (150 mL, 15 volumes). A solution of 98% sulfuric acid (50 mL, 5volumes) in water (100 mL, 10 volumes) was added and the mixture washeated at 65° C. for 6 hours. The foamy slurry became a clear solutionwith some insoluble white solids over time. The mixture was cooled to25° C. and stirred for 16 hours. Most of the methanol was removed undervacuum. The aqueous residue was extracted once with 100 mLdichloromethane, then twice with 50 mL dichloromethane. The combineddichloromethane extracts were dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate andfiltered. The dichloromethane was displaced with hexanes (100 mL, 10volumes) and stirred at 25° C. until solids formed. The solids werefiltered, and the filter cake was rinsed with hexane and dried to give9.27 g of 3-Hydroxy-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester (80% yield). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆): δ 13.07 (s, 1H); 3.83 (s,3H); 3.55 (s, 3H). MS (API-ES pos): 238 (M+H)+; 206 (M-MeO)+, base.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of Toluene-4-sulfonic acid4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyl ester

In a flask under nitrogen (4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-phenyl)-methanol (1.10equiv, 19.1 g) was taken up in dichloromethane (185 mL, 10 volumes) andp-toluenesulfonic anhydride (1.1 equiv, 28.9 g) was added. The mixturewas cooled to 0° C. and triethylamine (1.2 equiv, 13.0 mL, 9.47 g) wasadded dropwise over 20 minutes. The mixture was warmed to 25° C. andstirred for one hour. The mixture was then washed once with 185 mL 1Nhydrochloric acid, then once with 92.5 mL 1N hydrochloric acid. Theorganic layer, containing toluene-4-sulfonic acid4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyl ester, was concentrated to about 55-60 mL.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester

In a separate vessel,3-Hydroxy-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester(1.00 equiv, 18.5 g) was taken up in dimethylsulfoxide (185 mL, 10volumes) and potassium carbonate (1.0 equiv, 10.8 g) was added. Thetoluene-4-sulfonic acid 4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzylester/dichloromethane solution from Example 6 was added to the3-Hydroxy-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl/potassium carbonate/dimethylsulfoxide slurry dropwise over 1hour. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 16.5 hours. Dichloromethane(185 mL, 10 volumes) then water (185 mL, 10 volumes) were added and thelayers were separated. The organic layer was dried over magnesiumsulfate and filtered. The dichloromethane was removed under vacuum toleave an orange paste. The orange paste was diluted with 10 volumes of1:1 EtOAc:Hexanes (v/v) and slurried at 25° C. for 16 hours. The mixturewas filtered and the filter cake washed with 55-60 mL of 1:1EtOAc:Hexanes (v/v) and dried to give 24.22 g of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester (70% yield). ¹H NMR: (DMSO-d6) δ 7.57 (m, 2H); 5.46(s, 2H); 3.80 (s, 3H); 3.57 (s, 3H). MS (API-ES pos): 442/444 (M+H)⁺;205/207 (1,5-difluoro-3-bromotropylium ion), base.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of5-Amino-3-(4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester

In a 1 L autoclave3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-methanesulfonyl-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester (1.00 equiv, 28.0 g) was taken up in tetrahydrofuran(840 mL, 30 volumes). The vessel was evacuated, heated to 50° C., thenplaced under 45 psi of anhydrous ammonia gas. The mixture was stirred at600 rpm for 3 days, then 1000 rpm for an additional 21 hours. Themixture was cooled to 25° C., purged with nitrogen, then thetetrahydrofuran was removed on a rotovap. A 60:40 acetonitrile/water(v/v) solution (240 ml, 10 volumes with respect to theoretical productmass) was added to the residue. The slurry was heated to 70° C. for 1hour then stirred at 25° C. overnight. The slurry was filtered and thefilter cake rinsed with 60:40 acetonitrile/water (v/v) (40 mL). Thesolids were dried under vacuum to give 21.55 g of5-Amino-3-(4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester (90% yield). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 7.87 (s, 2H); 7.52 (m, 2H);5.26 (s, 2H); 3.60 (s, 3H). MS: (API-ES pos) 379/381 (M+H)⁺; 205/207(1,5-difluoro-3-bromotropylium ion), base.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of Imidazole-1-carboxylic acid(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-amide

In a flask under nitrogen, 4-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-butylamine (1.3 equiv, 10.1g) was taken up in tetrahydrofuran (105 mL, 5 volumes). The mixture wascooled to 0° C. and 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (1.3 equiv, 11.6 g) wasadded. The mixture stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes, then warmed to 20°C. over 10 minutes and held at 20° C. for 30 minutes.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester

Dimethylsulfoxide (105 mL, 5 volumes) was added to theimidazole-1-carboxylic acid(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-amide/tetrahydrofuran mixture, thetetrahydrofuran was removed by distillation under vacuum. The mixturewas cooled to 20° C. then5-Amino-3-(4-bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylic acidmethyl ester (1.00 equiv, 21.0 g) was added, followed by potassiumcarbonate (2.0 equiv, 15.2 g). The mixture stirred at 20° C. for 21.5hours. Ethyl acetate (210 mL, 10 volumes) then water (210 mL, 10volumes) were added. The slurry was stirred at 20° C. for 3-4 hours. Thesolids were filtered and the filter cake was rinsed with ethyl acetate(63.0 mL, 3 volumes). The solids were dried in a vacuum oven for 17hours to give 27.36 grams of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester (90% yield). ¹H NMR: (DMSO-d6) δ 10.38 (s, 1H); 8.11(m, 1H); 7.54 (m, 2H); 5.30 (s, 2H); 3.70 (s, 3H); 3.12 (m, 2H); 2.48(m, 6H); 1.63 (m, 4H); 1.44 (m, 4H). MS (API-ES pos): 547/549 (M+H)⁺,base.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide

In a 1 Liter autoclave3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid methyl ester (1.00 equiv, 27.0 g) was slurried in methanol (270 mL,10 volumes) and tetrahydrofuran (270 mL, 10 volumes). The mixture wascooled to 0° C. and stirred at 600 rpm. Anhydrous ammonia gas wascharged carefully, keeping the temperature below 10° C. Once a steadypressure of around 10 psi was maintained, the mixture was heated to 40°C. The pressure increased to about 45 psi. The pressure was adjusted to50 psi and stirred at 600 rpm and 40° C. for 90 hours. The stir rate wasthen adjusted to 1000 rpm and stirred for an additional 24 hours. Theammonia was removed by vacuum, and the mixture was cooled to 20° C. andtransferred out of the reactor. The mixture was filtered to removeinsoluble solids (non-product related). The filtrate was diluted with2-propanol (270 mL, 10 volumes), and the tetrahydrofuran and methanolwere distilled atmospherically. Additional 2-propanol (135 mL, 5volumes) were added, then the mixture was distilled to approximately 250mL total volume. The slurry was cooled to 20° C. and stirred 18 hours.The solids were filtered and then dried under vacuum to give 19.9 gramsof3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide (76% yield). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆): δ 10.98 (s, 1H); 8.18 (m, 1H);7.55 (m, 3H); 6.80 (s, 1H); 5.41 (s, 2H); 3.08 (m, 2H); 2.47 (m, 6H);1.62 (m, 4H); 1.42 (m, 4H). MS (API-ES pos) 532/534 (M+H)⁺, base.

We claim:
 1. A process for the preparation of a compound of Formula I

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; wherein R¹ isH, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, —C(O)_(t)(C₁-C₁₀alkyl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),—C(O)_(t)(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), or —C(O)_(t)(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 memberedheterocyclic), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl groupoptionally includes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and—N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and Satom are not attached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclicR¹ groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturatedcyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atomsin the foregoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by anoxo (═O) moiety; and the foregoing R¹ groups, except H, are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups; R² is selected from the list ofsubstituents provided in the definition of R¹, —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), and —OR⁵, t is aninteger ranging from 0 to 5, and the foregoing R² groups are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 R⁴ groups; or R¹ and R² may be taken together withthe nitrogen to which each is attached to form a 4-10 membered saturatedmonocyclic or polycyclic ring or a 5-10 membered heteroaryl ring,wherein said saturated and heteroaryl rings optionally include 1 or 2heteroatoms selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— in addition to the nitrogento which R¹ and R² are attached, said —N(R⁶)— is optionally ═N— or —N═where R¹ and R² are taken together as said heteroaryl group, saidsaturated ring optionally may be partially unsaturated by including 1 or2 carbon-carbon double bonds, and said saturated and heteroaryl rings,including the R⁶ group of said —N(R⁶)—, are optionally substituted by 1to 3 R⁴ groups; R³ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl,—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁ aryl), or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic),wherein t is an integer from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionallyincludes 1 or 2 hetero moieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with theproviso that two O atoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are notattached directly to each other; said aryl and heterocyclic R³ groupsare optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclicgroup, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclic group; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in theforegoing heterocyclic moieties are optionally substituted by an oxo(═O) moiety; the —(CH₂)_(t)— moieties of the foregoing R³ groupsoptionally include a carbon-carbon double or triple bond where t is aninteger from 2 to 5, and the foregoing R³ groups are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 5 R⁴ groups; each R⁴ is independently selected fromhalo, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl, nitro,trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —OR⁵, —NR⁶C(O)OR⁵, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵,—SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁶C(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶, —S(O)_(j)R⁷ wherein j is aninteger ranging from 0 to 2, —NR⁵(CR⁶R⁷)_(t)OR⁶, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), —SO₂(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—O(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), and—(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶, wherein m is an integer from 1 to 5 and t is an integerfrom 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally contains 1 or 2 hetero moietiesselected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two O atoms, two Satoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to each other; saidaryl and heterocyclic R⁴ groups are optionally fused to a C₆-C₁₀ arylgroup, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 membered heterocyclicgroup; 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the foregoing heterocyclic moieties areoptionally substituted by an oxo (═O) moiety; and the alkyl, aryl andheterocyclic moieties of the foregoing R⁴ groups are optionallysubstituted by 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from nitro,trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶SO₂R⁵, —SO₂NR⁵R⁶, —NRC(O)R⁵, —C(O)NR⁵R⁶, —NR⁵R⁶, —(CR⁶R⁷)_(m)OR⁶ wherein m is an integer from1 to 5, —OR⁵ and the substituents listed in the definition of R⁵; eachR⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said alkyl group optionally includes 1 or 2 heteromoieties selected from O, S and —N(R⁶)— with the proviso that two Oatoms, two S atoms, or an O and S atom are not attached directly to eachother; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁵ groups are optionally fused to aC₆-C₁₀ aryl group, a C₅-C₈ saturated cyclic group, or a 4-10 memberedheterocyclic group; and the foregoing R⁵ substituents, except H, areoptionally substituted by 1 to 3 substituents independently selectedfrom nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁶C(O)R⁷,—C(O)NR⁶R⁷, —NR⁶R⁷, hydroxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, and C₁-C₆ alkoxy; and each R⁶and R⁷ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl; comprising reacting a compoundof Formula II

wherein R⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, —C(O)_(t)(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), —C(O)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀aryl), —C(O)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl),—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocyclic), —C(O)O(C₁-C₁₀ alkyl);—C(O)O(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O(4-10 membered heterocyclic), wherein t is aninteger from 0 to 5; said aryl and heterocyclic R⁸ groups are optionallyfused to a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; and the foregoing aryl and heterocyclic R⁸groups are optionally substituted with 1-2 substituents independentlyselected from halogen, trifluoromethyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy, C₁-C₆ alkyl, andnitro groups; and R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined above forthe compound of Formula I, with an ammonia source in a solvent to give acompound of the Formula I, wherein said ammonia source is anhydrousammonia gas and the yield of the compound of Formula I is at least 76%.2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the compound of Formula Iis selected from the group consisting of:3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-{3-[3-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-(3-4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(6-dimethylamino-hexyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2-Fluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-isopropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide; hydrochloride salt of3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-pentyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3,4-dihydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(3-hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,5-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{4-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(5-hydroxy-6-piperidin-1-yl)-hexyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(4-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(5-methyl-2,5-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-{3-[2-(1-Methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(4-Dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Hydroxy-5-isopropropylamino-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Isopropylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-{3-[4-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-(3-{4-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(4-Hydroxy-5-piperidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-(3-{4-[Ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-(2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[4-(2-hydroxmethyl-piperidin-1-yl)-butyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-hydroxy-5-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Bromo-2,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-{3-[2-(1-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl)-ethyl]-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido}-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Bromo-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-pyrrolidin-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-imidazol-1-yl-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-difluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(4-Chloro-2,3,6-trifluoro-benzyloxy)-5-(3-{3-[ethyl-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-propyl}-ureido)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Methylamino-propyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(3-Amino-propyl)-3-methyl-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;5-[3-(4-Diethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-3-(2,3,6-trifluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(2,6-Difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-propyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide;3-(3-Chloro-2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-5-[3-(4-dimethylamino-butyl)-ureido]-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide; and5-(3-{4-[Bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-butyl}-ureido)-3-(2,6-difluoro-4-methyl-benzyloxy)-isothiazole-4-carboxylicacid amide; as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs ofsaid compounds.